From the eyes of one of our volunteers:

Each week we rely on dozens of volunteers to serve hundreds of people–over 850 folks this last Friday. Here is how one of our volunteers, Virgina, described the day:

The first Friday in August was hot, and we served over 850 people who lined up to collect quite a summer bounty of produce and staples. Our clients took home garlic, potatoes, red onions, green beans, corn on the cob, mushrooms, melon, zucchini, salad greens, cabbage, strawberries, enormous watermelons, granola bars, bags of Chinese noodles, cans of beans, peaches, pears, apples and a lot of loaves of sliced white bread.

We had three different groups who traveled to San Francisco to volunteer with us. Some are studying how to run food pantries in their own communities. Others, particularly high-school students and church groups, are just eager to lend a hand. We talk with them, train them, answer their questions, feed them lunch—and put them to work!

The teenagers are a blessing. Often they’re recruited to lift the heavy crates and the overflowing bags of the elderly. The Food Pantry has to run like a well-oiled machine to keep it running at all, and it takes a whole lot of hands to do what needs to be done—as well as over $900 to supplement the food we receive. We’re so grateful for your contributions of money and time: Thanks to all the cogs in the big machine for making this work so well!